31. How do organizations earn the Seal? Phase I Phase II Phase III Undergo 2nd review by Peer Reviewers Have the Standards been met? Submit application to SFXI Is the application complete? Undergo 3rd review by Ethics Standards Committee Should this organization be approved? 9
32. Who do I contact about the certification program? Angineeki Jones Certification Program Manager Ajones@standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org 410-727-6367 ext 2337 www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org 10
33. For More Information Contact: 11 Herk Conner, Program Coordinator h.conner@wvhub.org West Virginia Community Development Hub 301 Water Street Stonewood, WV 26301-4648 304-566-7332 www.wvhub.org
Editor's Notes
Welcome to an introduction to the Standards for Excellence and the West Virginia Community Development Hub’s Standards for Excellence Clinic Series training.
Beginning in 2005, several West Virginia community development stakeholders began to convene around the prospect of creating an aligned and coordinated system of community development for the state. As the group dug deeper, there was realization that an entity needed to take ownership of the work. Two nonprofits that were part of the group stepped up to the task and merged to form the West Virginia Community Development Hub.The Hub builds connections between communities, nonprofits and community development resource and service providers.The Hub recognizes that nonprofits often underpin the work of community development, providing staff, expertise and funding. It is vitally important that West Virginia nonprofits be the best they can in order for the state to move forward. One of the tools the Hub offers in support of that is the Standards for Excellence.
The Standards are comprised of eight major areas in nonprofit management and governance, supported by fifty individual benchmarks for how well managed, responsibly governed nonprofits should operate.They are intended to provide a model for how you can achieve a responsibly governed and well managed organization. They reflect consensus among stakeholders of how nonprofits ought to operate. Reality is - few of us do 100%. But we all could.
The Standards set a high bar, going well beyond the minimum requirements of law. They are intended to provide a model for how you can achieve a responsibly governed and well managed organization. They reflect consensus among stakeholders of how nonprofits ought to operate. Reality is that few of us do 100%. But we all could.
The Maryland Association of Nonprofits launched its own Standards program in 1998. The National program began in 2005.
There are currently seven replication partners working with the Standards for Excellence Institute in the following states:ColoradoMarylandLouisianaPennsylvaniaOhioOklahomaWest VirginiaThe Hub is the only licensed Standards for Excellence provider in West Virginia. SFX Institute provides training and technical assistance to the Hub and keeps the Standards up to date.
The Hub brings the Standards for Excellence to WV nonprofits through Clinic Series trainings.The Clinic Series consists of two one day sessions about a week apart. This allows participants to prepare their own organizational materials for the second session. For both sessions participants are encouraged to bring their organization’s documents as examples for discussion.The eight guiding principles of the Standards build a framework of ethics and accountability for you organization. Within each principle, you will learn how to comply with both best practices and legal issues. Many examples, templates, and other tools are provided for your organization’s use in implementing policy. However, the Clinic Series is not a training in accounting practices, nor does it go beyond general nonprofit legal issues. Also, the Clinic Series is not a training on how to start a nonprofit, but new and emerging nonprofits will benefit from the information provided.Each of the two sessions is facilitated by a trained trainer. At the end of each of the eight topics the trainer will lead a peer to peer exchange that will allow organizations to share with and learn from each other.In addition to the training, organizations will take home comprehensive materials including 22 educational resource packets that extensively cover the Standards for Excellence Code.Organizations are encouraged to bring two participants. This allow a key staff person and another appropriate board person to attend. For instance the Board Treasurer may want to attend the session on fiscal responsibilities. Or the Board president may want to attend the day that governance and board responsibilities are covered.
One of the benefits of the Clinic Series training is that it will help prepare you for potential application to the Standards for Excellence Seal of Excellence. This is a rigorous application, but approved organizations are licensed to display the Standards for Excellence seal showing your commitment to accountability and best practices.
To apply for the Seal, organizations must submit a written application, supporting documents, and an application fee to the Standards for Excellence Institute. There are essentially three phases to the review process.In Phase 1, the process begins with the application, which is reviewed by a Standards for Excellence Institute staff member. They review the application for completeness and complete a preliminary check on the application, using a standard evaluation tool. Staff requests additional information if necessary.In Phase 2, a team of two trained peer-reviewers assesses the applicant's practices and determines if the applicant has met the Standards. The final Phase 3 review is completed by the Ethics Standards Committee. The Committee considers recommendations by the peer review team and makes the final decision.
For more information on the certification program visit the Standards for Excellence website or contact Angineeki Jones, Certification Program Manager.
For more information about the Hub or the Standards for Excellence Clinic Series trainings, contact the Hub office or website.
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